Impact operated release mechanism



1,; 5; g; 1 3 3 U09 LII-ENDE- QHI-HHDW Feb. 19, 1946. r H. CARPENTER 4 2,395,252

IMPACT OPERATED RELEASE MECHANISM Filed June 27, 1944 I 4 I 9 I g. I I I y I a I: I

INVENTOR v BYTHEODZREMGARPENTER ORNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1946 IMPACT OPERATED RELEASE MECHANISM Theodore H. Carpenter signer to United Sta sented by the Secret New London, Conn, astcs of America, as repreary of the Navy Application June 27, 1944, Serial No. 542,415

9 Claims.

This invention relates in general to automatically operated release mechanisms and, in par- .ticular, to such a mechanism for automatically Other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of, the invention as applied'to the releasable hydrophone in the radio-sonic buoy described in application Serial N0.. 555,154, filed September 21, 1944. However, itwill'be understood that the invention may be used equally as well to release other objects. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the release, mechanism attached to the lower end of the'buoy casing, showing the relative positions of the mechanism andthe hydrophone which is to be released;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the operating portion of the device; and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device as assembled in the buoy.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like parts are identified byv like reference numerals, the device consists generallyofa fixed casting, or frame, ID with the operating mechanism I2 contained therein. In the embodiment shown,

the frame is secured to the lower end of the buoy case M and forms part of the chamber holding.

a the hydrophone Hi to be released. The upper end of the hydrophone bears against the upper end of the chamber as shown in application Serial No.

535,170, filed May 11, 1944. The frame l also serves-as part of the weight necessary to cause the container to float in water in the proper posit on.

The operating mechanism [2 is shown in detail in Fig. 2. It consists of a pressure plate l8, one end of which is cut away to form a slot 20. A shaft 22 i secured to the underside of the plate I8 across the slot 2|] and pivotally carries a latch .24 in the slot. The free end of the latch comprises a hook 26 and an ear 28. A tension spring 30 extends from the ear 28 to a spring anchorage 32 at the opposite end of the pressure plate It).

The frame H! as shown in Fig. 3 has a slot 34 formed at one side on its inner surface and a socket or recess 36 at the opposite side to receive the ends of the pressure plate It. The hook 26 of the latch 24 engages with a lip 351 on the inner side of the frame. A compression spring 20 is interposed between the plate H3 and the hydrophone I 6 to hold the plate in the latched-position,- resiliently mount and cushion the h'ydrophone from the effect of impact, and permit the plate to approach the hydrophone and release the latch 24 on impact. The compression spri 49 is pported on a channel-shaped bracket 42 fastened to the plate I8 to clear the tension spring 30.

Operation of the device is as follows: The buoy or other device with which the present device is used falls into the water in the general position shown in Fig. 3 after being launched by any suitable means. As it strikes the water, the impact of the water on the underside of the pressure plate I8 forces it up against the compression of the spring 40, and the plate pivots about its end in the recess 36. This lifts the end of hook 26 clear of lip 38, and the tension spring 30 then pulls the latch 24 clear of the frame, pivoting on shaft 22.

As the-downward velocity of the buoy diminishes, the water pressure on the plate I8 decreases rapidly until it is no longer greater than the strength of the compression spring 40, at which time-this spring forces the whole assembly out of the bottom of the frame. The hydrophone to be released is nowfree to fall out of the chamber under the influence of gravity.

In conclusion, it will be understood that the invention may be applied equally as well to the similar release of objects other than hydrophones and from other types of enclosing casings.

Furthermore, it will be apparent that the particular construction and arrangement of elements described is illustrative only and that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A casing adapted to be launched into water such as from aircraft, said casing being open at the lower end, a device within said lower end, support means for releasably securing said device within said casing, and means operable upon impact of said support means with the water to release said support means whereby said device will be free to drop out of said casing. 2. A casing adapted to be launched into water the lower end, a device within said lower end, support means for releasably securing said device, resilient means disposed between'said support means and said device for resiliently mounting the latter, and means operable upon impact of said support means with the water to release saidsupport means whereby said device. will be free to drop out of said casing.v

3. A casing adapted to be launched into water such as from aircraft, said casing being open at the lower end, a device within said lower end, a plate member extending transversely across the. lower end of said casing, securing means forsaid plate member, resilient means disposed between said plate member and said device for, resiliently mounting the latter, and means operable upon impact of said plate member with the water for releasing said plate member from its said se curing means whereby said device will be free to fall out of said casing.

4. A casing adapted to be launched into water such as from aircraft, said casing being open at. the lower'end, a device within. said lower, end, a. plate member extending transversely across the lower end of the casing, meansin-cluding; latch. means: for securing said. plate member in. place, resilient; means disposed between said plate mem-- her and said device. for resiliently mounting: the; latter, and means operable upon impact; for ne leasing said plate securing: latch. means. whereby said. device will be free. to; drop out of. said casing.

5. In a buoy adapted to. be launched into water such as from aircraft, said. buoy including a cas;- ing open at. its; lower end and a hydrophone therein, support. means. for releasably: securing said hydrophone. within said casing, and means cperable. upon. impact or said support means with the water to release said support means whereby said hydrophonewill. be free to drop out of said casing.

6. In a buoy adapted tube launched. into water such aszfrom aircraft, said buoy including. a. casopen atits lower end and a. hydrophone therein, a plate member extending transversely across; the lower end of said casing, securing means. for said plate member, resilient means disposed. be-

tween said plate: member and hydrophone: for re.-

siliently mounting said hydrophone, and means;

' such as from aircraft, said casing being open at operable upon impact of said plate member with the water for releasing said plate member from its said securing means whereby said hydrophon will be free to drop out of said casing.

7. In a buoy adapted to be launched into water such as from aircraft, said buoy including a casing open at its lower end and a hydrophone therein, support means for releasably securing said hydrophone within said casing, resilient means disposed between said support means and said hydrophone for resiliently mounting said hydrophone, and means operable upon impact of said support means with the water to release said support means whereby said hydrophone will be free to, drop out of said casing.

8. In a buoy adapted to be launched into water such as from aircraft, said buoy including a casing open at its lower end and a hydrophone therein, aplate member extending transversely across the lower end of said casing, means including latch means for securing said plate. member in p1ace,.resilient means disposedbetween said plate, member and hydrophone for resiliently mount.- ing said hydrophone, and means operable. upon impact. of said plate member with the water for releasing said plate securing latch means whereby said plate and hydrophone will be free to drop out of said casing.

9. In a buoy adapted to be launched into. Water such as: from aircraft, said buoy including a. casing: open at its lower end and provided with. a.

recess on one side. and a. lip opposite: thereto-,,

and. a hydrophone within the lower end of said casing, a plate extending transversely across the;- lower end of said casing, said plate having-a. hook member pivotally mounted at. one end of said. plate and engaging said lip, the other end of said plate being received in said recess, spring means.

lowing said spring means to disengage said hook member therefrom and the hydrophone to: fall.

out of. said casing under the restoring forceor;

said resilient means.

THEODORE H. CARPENTER. 

